July 13, 2015
By Olivia Miwil
Pictures courtesy of Oliver Majaham.
KOTA KINABALU: A small ecological farm here has served as a practical site for researchers to test their theories on plants and livestock.
The 0.40 ha Signal Hill Ecofarm, located within the heart of the city, is owned by a local Lee Thien Fook.
The collaboration between Lee and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) started when the farm started about two years ago.
“An agricultural scientist, who researched on the benefits of Tongkat Ali and Ginseng, had proposed to feed those herbs to chickens and ducks.
“The outcome was positive. They live longer and their eggs are fresher,” he said, adding he had been utilising the method until now.
Lee, 68, said the farm was set up to provide organic food and a natural environment for his sick wife to recuperate back then.
At first, the businessman-turned-farmer relied only on commercial fertiliser for his plants but encountered problems which the same vegetables did not grow well.
“It is a blessing to have researchers to share knowledge and guide me on planting and rearing livestock.
“In return, I let them put their theories into practice at the farm as those results will also benefits consumers,” he said, adding the farm had also started serving food for public since four months ago.
He also sells fresh vegetables such as Kale, lettuce and poultry to regular customers including several UMS foreign lecturers.
Other studies being conducted at the farm include the effects of special lights and direct sunlight to growth rate of specific vegetables and cinnamon plants.
Lee will be looking into possibility for partnership with other farmers in the state to establish natural farms to produce better quality food.
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